Based on the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the inclusion/amendment of the names of castes and communities in the Central Lists of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in respect of Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan and the Union Territory of Daman & Diu.
Following this, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry will notify for the first time the Central list of OBCs in respect of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and make amendments in the lists for the others.
The inclusion of communities in the Central list is expected to have positive fallout, especially in the Maoist-affected Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, according to official sources. For, this will help them avail themselves of reservation in Central Government services and posts as well as in Central educational institutions, thus “contributing to the goal of equity and inclusiveness.”
The Cabinet also approved the addition of the ‘Adrakhi' caste in the Central list of OBCs for Bihar at entry no. 132.